Why Should you Buy a Shotgun Over a Handgun?

Jul 30, 2018

If you’ve ever been concerned with home defense, you have probably pondered whether a shotgun or a handgun would be a better choice. Say it’s the middle of the night. Suddenly, a sharp noise wakes you up. Someone is screaming, or perhaps the dog is barking, maybe you hear some things breaking. Whatever is it, it sounds like a stranger might be trying to break in. He could damage your property or hurt you and your loved ones. Naturally, you grab your gun and proceed to defend your home. But what type of gun would do the best job in this situation?

Handguns

Handguns may seem like the more convenient choice, all thanks to their small size and lightweight. They’re easily maneuvered and have good capacity. At first glance, they sound like the best choice. But there is a problem when it comes to handguns: they are much harder to shoot accurately than a shotgun.

According to a study performed on the New York Police Department’s firearm training, the average hit rate for handguns was a mere 18 percent. That’s 4 out of 5 shots missed, and the odds are even worse if you lack training. Being a good handgun shooter requires many hours of training and regular practice.

Shotguns

A shotgun, on the other hand, is much easier to use. It uses a larger area of the body for support, making it steadier.

Secondly, shotguns are much more versatile. They are usually used with buckshot shells, which scatter projectiles, making each shot more effective and deadly, but they can be loaded with other types of ammunition as well.

Shotguns can be used with slugs for a long-range shot, or other specialized kinds of ammunition. Shotgun ammo can be adapted to your personal circumstances.

One point that most people don’t take into consideration is the penetration power of the projectile.

If you fire a gun inside a house or another form of an enclosed environment, the projectile can travel through the walls, hitting someone on the other side. An innocent passerby, a neighbor, or a bystander could be hurt in the process. The faster a projectile is, the more likely it is to fully penetrate the wall.

Slow or lightweight projectiles are unlikely to go through the wall and hurt an innocent passerby.

Rifle and handgun projectiles make this scenario possible, but shotgun loads either have a pretty low velocity or weigh very little per bead.

Final Thoughts

All in all, shotguns are a more practical choice for home defense. Handguns are smaller and handier, but shotguns are more accurate, easier to use, and more versatile.